Sometimes, it's clear that a school isn't working for your child. You may have chosen the school when he or she was younger, and now, it isn't a good fit. Your child may be struggling academically or find it difficult to make friends. How do you know if it's time to make the difficult decision to change schools?
Signs that your child should change schools:
Your child is struggling to learn.
When your child is continually struggling in every or most subjects, it's a sign that the school may not be right for her. If you suspect that she may have learning difficulties, you can have her evaluated and possibly receive accommodations at your school. You can also look into hiring a tutor, finances permitting. However, if your child continues to struggle with these supports in place, it's a sign that her school may not be the best place for her to learn.
Your child isn't making friends.
Your child may find herself isolated or unable to relate to the children at school, particularly if the students have changed since she was first admitted to the school. She may want to join a club or an extracurricular activity to try to connect to other kids, but if she still finds herself failing to connect, this is another sign that she may feel more comfortable at another school. She may need a smaller school, or one at which the students are more like her in important ways.
Your child expresses an interest that needs additional cultivation.
Your child may have fallen in love with hockey or music or the arts, and she may need a place to cultivate this interest.
Your family may need to change.
If there has been a change in your family situation because of finances or relocation, your child may also need to change schools. In addition, some children change schools to attend a school with their sibling or sometimes, to strike out on their own. Some students change schools to enjoy the independence of boarding school.
If you decide your child needs to change schools, follow these steps:
Make sure she is on board.
Many students resist changing schools because they think it's a sign of failure. Instead, assure her that changing schools will allow her to find a more suitable place that's right for her and that she can keep in touch with the friends she has at her current school. If she is a tween or teen, let her know that she will have a role in choosing her new school: she will be an important observer on interviews, and she will be part of the process of judging which new school will be right for her.
Start early and follow a timeline.
If you are switching schools when your child is in the fourth grade or older, she will most likely have to take an admissions test such as the ISEE, SSAT, or COOPs for Catholic school. You will need to fill out applications and plan at least a year ahead. In other words, you will have to finish most applications by January in the academic year before you plan on attending the school. You will also have to go on interviews, as you most likely did to choose your first school, if your child is currently attending a private school. If your child is in public school, this process will be unfamiliar to you, and you can follow this timeline to make it easier.
Make sure the schools feel right.
When you are looking at schools, try to find the one that will fit your child and your family best. Carefully consider each schools' financial aid package and consider how well the school will suit your child down the road.
